Deakin research reveals women’s experiences of racism in sport

The study found racist behaviour experienced by women and girls most commonly took the form of appearance-based name-calling, bias, microaggressions and a lack of understanding of diverse cultures.

The findings have prompted calls by researchers for a zero-tolerance approach to racism in community sporting clubs and associations. A need for clearer guidelines on what constitutes racism, the consequences for such behaviour, and greater transparency in reporting are among the recommendations.

Project lead Associate Professor Kim Toffoletti of Deakin’s Centre for Sport Research in the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition said a key theme among research respondents was they wanted to feel heard and believed when reporting racism.

‘One Victorian rugby player of Pacific Islands descent told us she was called an “island monkey” and a “savage”. Another sportswoman of Muslim heritage was told that by playing sport she had been freed from wearing a hijab. Both examples are insensitive at best, and discriminatory and offensive at worst,’ Associate Professor Toffoletti said.

Monash researcher Dr Aish Ravi, who has lived experience of racism in sport, said it was clear that organisational understandings of racism and its impacts must be strengthened.

‘Many women shared with us the emotional toll of having to educate others about what behaviour constitutes as racism. They told us about the burden of proof victims must carry when reporting an incident. Often, victims are forced to make reports of racism with little or no organisational support and no clear action taken by the organisation to address the issue,’ Dr Ravi said.

University of Melbourne researcher Professor Karen Farquharson added: ‘Participants also believed existing organisational strategies in community sport to address racism, such as hosting multicultural days and Indigenous rounds, are tokenistic and not meaningful.’

Dissatisfaction with complaints handling processes and negative impacts to mental health and wellbeing after seeing or experiencing racism first-hand were commonly reported by study participants.

These experiences drove many to withdraw from the sport they loved, or to change clubs or switch to another activity, the research team noted.

Researchers conducted 20 in-depth interviews with women from culturally and racially marginalised and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. The women were involved in community sport in Victoria as players, coaches, parents, administrators, board and committee members, and all had experienced or witnessed racism in sport settings.

Research participants were aged from their 20s to 50s and were from ethnically diverse backgrounds across Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the Pacific, South Asia and South-East Asia.

Players, spectators, coaches, umpires and those in administration were identified as perpetrators of racism, pointing to a need for a comprehensive, multi-level approach to tackling the issue, the research team said.

Actions identified for community sporting clubs and associations to support anti-racism behaviours include:

• Prioritising the safety of those experiencing racism, such as ensuring cultural safety training is provided to players, coaches and volunteers.
• Developing and communicating clear guidelines around what is acceptable/unacceptable behaviour and the actions clubs will take against racist behaviour.
• Developing and communicating clear reporting processes that are transparent, impartial, timely and accountable to those reporting racism.
• Engaging with and seeking input from women to improve understanding and identify ways to support their safety and experiences.
• Actively encouraging and supporting women from diverse backgrounds on club committees and in leadership roles.

The research was funded the Victorian Government’s Change Our Game Research Grants Program. View the research summary here.

Deakin Media release, 5 November 2025